Moving up through µNL in
Moving up through µNL in
2010
2010
Verneer
Verneer
Introduction Introduction Moving Up Through
Moving Up Through !!NL in 2010NL in 2010- - Verneer Verneer describes describes his his focus focus of of the the project project 4, 4, 55 Verneer's Quick Bio
Verneer's Quick Bio 6, 76, 7
HUD Information HUD Information
Your HUD and Reads- Verneer shows how
Your HUD and Reads- Verneer shows how stats canstats can be be misleading misleading over over 8, 8, 9, 9, 1010 small sample sizes.
small sample sizes.
My HUD (Heads Up Display) + Ranges
My HUD (Heads Up Display) + Ranges and and Playing Playing The The Player- Player- Verneer Verneer 11, 11, 1212 goes over what hud numbers he
goes over what hud numbers he uses,uses, why he uses them andwhy he uses them and how the numbers correlate to
how the numbers correlate to our opponents ranges.our opponents ranges. Positional Play
Positional Play Under
Under the the Gun Gun 13, 13, 1414
Middle Position
Middle Position 1515
Cutoff Part 1&2
Cutoff Part 1&2 16, 17, 1816, 17, 18
Button Part 1,2&3
Button Part 1,2&3 19 to 2519 to 25
Small Blind Part 1
Small Blind Part 1 26, 2726, 27
Verneer Articles and
Verneer Articles and ThreadThread Primum Non Nocere, Part 1-
Primum Non Nocere, Part 1- Preflop compoPreflop compounds unds post-flop post-flop article. article. 2828 A Balanced Range- What is it, and sho
A Balanced Range- What is it, and should uld we we worry worry about about it it at at the the micros? micros? 2929 Common
Common !!NL Leaks, Part 1NL Leaks, Part 1 30, 31, 3230, 31, 32 Turning off Auto P
Turning off Auto Pilot ilot with with JTs JTs and and QJs QJs 3333 Quick Article about A9s v lo
Quick Article about A9s v lower wer suites suites aces aces 3434 Red
Red Line Line Graph Graph Article Article 3535
Verneer Asks
Verneer Asks DOGISHEAD DOGISHEAD to to define define ABC ABC Poker Poker 3636 Verneer post
Verneer postss a a picture picture of of a a table table and and asks asks Should Should I I stay stay or or should should I I go?- go?- 3737 table selection
table selection discussion follows.discussion follows. Assume
Assume the the Position...- Position...- Verneer Verneer starts starts a a discussion discussion about about IP IP v v OOP OOP 38, 38, 3939 Show Me The Money! (Part
Show Me The Money! (Part 1)- Verneer describes the reasons to build pots1)- Verneer describes the reasons to build pots Calling Preflop to Make Moves Post-flop- Includes a link to so
Calling Preflop to Make Moves Post-flop- Includes a link to so me me 40, 40, 4141 old videos with MDoranD
old videos with MDoranD Verneer describes ho
Verneer describes how w to to deal deal with with losing losing sessions sessions 42, 42, to to 4545 A
A Postflop Postflop Line Line Exercise Exercise Part Part 1 1 46, 46, 4747 A Short Note about
A Short Note about Tilt Tilt 4848
Why
Why Durrrr Durrrr plays plays 86s 86s UTG UTG but but you you shouldn't- shouldn't- Verneer Verneer describes describes opening opening 4949 and calling ranges, and why we aren’t ready to be playing like durrrr.
and calling ranges, and why we aren’t ready to be playing like durrrr. Bluffing
Introduction Introduction Moving Up Through
Moving Up Through !!NL in 2010NL in 2010- - Verneer Verneer describes describes his his focus focus of of the the project project 4, 4, 55 Verneer's Quick Bio
Verneer's Quick Bio 6, 76, 7
HUD Information HUD Information
Your HUD and Reads- Verneer shows how
Your HUD and Reads- Verneer shows how stats canstats can be be misleading misleading over over 8, 8, 9, 9, 1010 small sample sizes.
small sample sizes.
My HUD (Heads Up Display) + Ranges
My HUD (Heads Up Display) + Ranges and and Playing Playing The The Player- Player- Verneer Verneer 11, 11, 1212 goes over what hud numbers he
goes over what hud numbers he uses,uses, why he uses them andwhy he uses them and how the numbers correlate to
how the numbers correlate to our opponents ranges.our opponents ranges. Positional Play
Positional Play Under
Under the the Gun Gun 13, 13, 1414
Middle Position
Middle Position 1515
Cutoff Part 1&2
Cutoff Part 1&2 16, 17, 1816, 17, 18
Button Part 1,2&3
Button Part 1,2&3 19 to 2519 to 25
Small Blind Part 1
Small Blind Part 1 26, 2726, 27
Verneer Articles and
Verneer Articles and ThreadThread Primum Non Nocere, Part 1-
Primum Non Nocere, Part 1- Preflop compoPreflop compounds unds post-flop post-flop article. article. 2828 A Balanced Range- What is it, and sho
A Balanced Range- What is it, and should uld we we worry worry about about it it at at the the micros? micros? 2929 Common
Common !!NL Leaks, Part 1NL Leaks, Part 1 30, 31, 3230, 31, 32 Turning off Auto P
Turning off Auto Pilot ilot with with JTs JTs and and QJs QJs 3333 Quick Article about A9s v lo
Quick Article about A9s v lower wer suites suites aces aces 3434 Red
Red Line Line Graph Graph Article Article 3535
Verneer Asks
Verneer Asks DOGISHEAD DOGISHEAD to to define define ABC ABC Poker Poker 3636 Verneer post
Verneer postss a a picture picture of of a a table table and and asks asks Should Should I I stay stay or or should should I I go?- go?- 3737 table selection
table selection discussion follows.discussion follows. Assume
Assume the the Position...- Position...- Verneer Verneer starts starts a a discussion discussion about about IP IP v v OOP OOP 38, 38, 3939 Show Me The Money! (Part
Show Me The Money! (Part 1)- Verneer describes the reasons to build pots1)- Verneer describes the reasons to build pots Calling Preflop to Make Moves Post-flop- Includes a link to so
Calling Preflop to Make Moves Post-flop- Includes a link to so me me 40, 40, 4141 old videos with MDoranD
old videos with MDoranD Verneer describes ho
Verneer describes how w to to deal deal with with losing losing sessions sessions 42, 42, to to 4545 A
A Postflop Postflop Line Line Exercise Exercise Part Part 1 1 46, 46, 4747 A Short Note about
A Short Note about Tilt Tilt 4848
Why
Why Durrrr Durrrr plays plays 86s 86s UTG UTG but but you you shouldn't- shouldn't- Verneer Verneer describes describes opening opening 4949 and calling ranges, and why we aren’t ready to be playing like durrrr.
and calling ranges, and why we aren’t ready to be playing like durrrr. Bluffing
Reflection
Reflection - - Verneer Verneer reflects reflects some some on on his his first first attempt attempt to to move move to to 50nl. 50nl. 5151 Reflections
Reflections Part Part 2- 2- More More reflections reflections from from Verneer, Verneer, this this time time about about his his 2nd, 2nd, 5252 and successful, shot at 50nl.
and successful, shot at 50nl. Thoughts
Thoughts on on Moving Moving up up in in Limits, Limits, The The Monster Monster and and The The Nute Nute - - Taming Taming the the 53, 53, 5454 monster and becoming the nute
monster and becoming the nute The
The Monster Monster and and The The Nute Nute (Part (Part 2) 2) - - More More about about these these two two creatures creatures inside inside us. us. 55, 55, 56, 56, 5757 A
A Great Great Spot Spot to to Raise Raise - - Exploiting Exploiting people people with with a a clear clear range range looking looking for for thin thin value. value. 5858 Leak
Leak Finder Finder Part Part 1 1 - - Verneer Verneer compares compares his his stats stats to to gisiciliano’s, gisiciliano’s, to to find find leaks leaks in in gis’s gis’s game. game. 59, 59, 6060 Leak Finder Part 2
Leak Finder Part 2 - Verneer looks for leaks in gisiciliano’s stats.- Verneer looks for leaks in gisiciliano’s stats. 61, 6261, 62 Leak Finder Part 3- Verneer
Leak Finder Part 3- Verneer reviews some of greviews some of gisiciliano’s isiciliano’s c-bets c-bets in in order order to to plug plug some some leaks. leaks. 6262 Leak Finder Part 4- Verneer loo
Leak Finder Part 4- Verneer looks ks at at how how gisiciliano gisiciliano plays plays against against steals. steals. 63, 63, 6464 Have
Have A Plan A Plan - V- Verneer erneer tells tells us us why we why we should should have have a pa plan blan before efore doing doing anything anything in a in a hand. hand. 6565
Hand History Reviews Hand History Reviews
Hand #1 of Sweat Session # 1
Hand #1 of Sweat Session # 1 with MagisterLudi..with MagisterLudi.. 66, 67, 6866, 67, 68 followed by other interesti
followed by other interesting hands from the sessionng hands from the session A
A Nutted Nutted Hand Hand Part Part 1- 1- River River decision decision after after we we get get there there and and villain villain overbets overbets pot. pot. 6969 A
A Nutted Nutted Hand Hand Part Part 2- 2- How How do do we we proceed proceed on on the the turn turn with with top top set. set. 7070 A
A Nutted Nutted Hand Hand Part Part 3- 3- Turn Turn decision decision while while holding holding the the second second nuts.. nuts.. 7171 how to get value out
how to get value out of the hand.of the hand. Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Verneer
Verneer interviews interviews ViniVici ViniVici 72, 72, 7373 Verneer Review Tommy Angelo's "Elements of Po
Verneer Review Tommy Angelo's "Elements of Poker ker 7474 Information
Information about about how how to to do do a a sweat sweat session. session. 7575 $/hr
$/hr vs vs # # of of tables tables comparison comparison 7676 Milestones
Milestones Verneer
Verneer Doubles Doubles his his bankroll bankroll to to $200! $200! 7777 Verneer breaks th
Verneer breaks the e $500 $500 mark! mark! 7777 Verneer
Verneer 10x’s 10x’s his his starting starting bankroll! bankroll! 7878 Verneer’s ascent c
Verneer’s ascent continues ontinues as as he he hits hits $1,500! $1,500! 7979 Verneer
Verneer hits hits $2,000! $2,000! - - He He weebles weebles and and wobbles... wobbles... but but he he hits hits $2,000! $2,000! 8080 Verneer announces
Verneer announces that that he he has has completed completed his his rise rise through through the the micros... micros... 8181 but he plans to continue teaching uNL'ers how to win money at the micros.
but he plans to continue teaching uNL'ers how to win money at the micros. Links
Links 8282
Thanks
Verneer - Moving through µNL in 2010
Verneer - Moving through µNL in 2010
Online poker is evolving. What might have been true
Online poker is evolving. What might have been true in 2006 at 200NL could be obsolete in 2010. Thein 2006 at 200NL could be obsolete in 2010. The games are getting tougher because the average person is much
games are getting tougher because the average person is much more knowledgeable about the game.more knowledgeable about the game. This means that
This means that !!NL games are evolving as well.NL games are evolving as well. So that's the title of the thread: "Moving Up Through
So that's the title of the thread: "Moving Up Through !!NL in 2010". This is where I plan to write aboutNL in 2010". This is where I plan to write about and discuss some of the bigger issues that I
and discuss some of the bigger issues that I see with these games today from a see with these games today from a few perspectives:few perspectives: 1. Reading and discussing tons of posts from the
1. Reading and discussing tons of posts from the !!NL forumsNL forums 2. Sweating other regulars who play these
2. Sweating other regulars who play these stakesstakes 3. Playing these stakes myself
3. Playing these stakes myself I feel that all
I feel that all three of these categories are critical for developing a good macro view of three of these categories are critical for developing a good macro view of thethe !!NL landscapeNL landscape and each of them provides a
and each of them provides a unique insight into it. To elaborate:unique insight into it. To elaborate: 1. Reading the HH's that are
1. Reading the HH's that are posted on the forums shows what thinking posted on the forums shows what thinking players think are tough spots forplayers think are tough spots for them. It also shows how thinking players think
them. It also shows how thinking players think about the game at the about the game at the different levels.different levels. 2. While a HH's is usually
2. While a HH's is usually a frozen moment in time, a a frozen moment in time, a sweat session gives an insight into how a sweat session gives an insight into how a playerplayer handles the little things. Subtle leaks are
handles the little things. Subtle leaks are exposed and situations which never get posted to the forumsexposed and situations which never get posted to the forums happen again and again.
happen again and again. As a side note, if you've n As a side note, if you've n ever done a sweat session with another ever done a sweat session with another personperson playing around the same limits as you (or
playing around the same limits as you (or higher), these are some of the higher), these are some of the best things you can do to best things you can do to grow grow as a player.
as a player.
3. Should seem self-explanatory: It's easy to play Monday morning quarterback. I plan on
3. Should seem self-explanatory: It's easy to play Monday morning quarterback. I plan on playing theplaying the limits from 5NL to wherever I end
limits from 5NL to wherever I end up this December.up this December. As I mentioned, this thread will contain
As I mentioned, this thread will contain general articles I plan to write general articles I plan to write about strategy and theory at theabout strategy and theory at the micros. I hope that the discussion that
micros. I hope that the discussion that comes out of these will help you grow comes out of these will help you grow as a player. There is as a player. There is aa caveat of course: Don't take everything written at
caveat of course: Don't take everything written at face value - you have face value - you have to think for yourself, and if to think for yourself, and if youyou disagree with something, voice your disagreements. Debate is healthy and disagree with something, voice your disagreements. Debate is healthy and
constructive. constructive.
I think that is
I think that is enough to get going. As the enough to get going. As the king from Alice in Wonderland said,king from Alice in Wonderland said, "Let's begin at the beginning, continue until the end, and then stop."
"Let's begin at the beginning, continue until the end, and then stop." I'll start my next post with
I'll start my next post with a discussion of using your HUD to a discussion of using your HUD to develop a basicdevelop a basic read on a player.
read on a player.
From Verneer's blog entry on why
From Verneer's blog entry on why he's doing this:he's doing this: What does it take to beat
What does it take to beat the micros and move up in the micros and move up in stakes? I often hearstakes? I often hear players say such blanket statements as “play tight and
players say such blanket statements as “play tight and value bet – that’s allvalue bet – that’s all you need to do to beat
you need to do to beat the micro donks”. A lot of the micro donks”. A lot of people that talk about howpeople that talk about how easy it is to beat the micros haven’t played there in a while and they don’t easy it is to beat the micros haven’t played there in a while and they don’t have a good grasp about the changing nature of the games. There is more to have a good grasp about the changing nature of the games. There is more to beating the micros and moving beyond them than just
beating the micros and moving beyond them than just that.that. One of my good friends who used
One of my good friends who used to crush 2/4 and 3/6 two-and-a-half years to crush 2/4 and 3/6 two-and-a-half years ago (has it been that ago (has it been that long?long? Wow … ) just recently came
Wow … ) just recently came back to poker. He started playing 10NL and 25NL just back to poker. He started playing 10NL and 25NL just to get some rust outto get some rust out and remarked how much tougher and
and remarked how much tougher and more competent both the donks and the regs are more competent both the donks and the regs are at the micros.at the micros. There are so many more resources out
There are so many more resources out there for those that want there for those that want to improve.to improve. Yet people still play really badly. As a frequent
Yet people still play really badly. As a frequent poster in the 2+2 and CardRunners micro stakes forums, poster in the 2+2 and CardRunners micro stakes forums, II notice so many of the same mistakes on
notice so many of the same mistakes on the forums – both in the forums – both in terms of HH’s played and advice given. As Iterms of HH’s played and advice given. As I play hands myself I notice leaks here and
play hands myself I notice leaks here and there in my own game there in my own game – both in subtle analysis and overall– both in subtle analysis and overall play.
play.
In the fall of
In the fall of 2009, I talked quite a bit with 2009, I talked quite a bit with Taylor, and we both thought it Taylor, and we both thought it would be cool to develop thewould be cool to develop the ultimate resource for micro stakes players – a collection of videos, articles, and personal advice that ultimate resource for micro stakes players – a collection of videos, articles, and personal advice that takes a player from $100 to a
takes a player from $100 to a five-figure bankroll. The best way to do it five-figure bankroll. The best way to do it is to take the long-termis to take the long-term approach, and I think that I’m in a unique position to do that.
For one, I love writing about poker and teaching. I have gotten countless e-mails and comments from people whose games I’ve helped and this makes me happy. As I mentioned above – I want to develop the ultimate resource for someone who wants to deposit $100 and run it up the right way – moving up within your bankroll and with limited risk of ruin. I know that this is much less sexy than taking the $100 and buying in for 50 BB’s at a 200PLO table and then going on a insane heater, but oh well. The teacher in me also love developing learning materials and resources. I have two advanced degrees in education and it is still my love, even if teaching in a secondary or post-secondary setting isn’t for me right now. Secondly, I have an amazing poker support network comprised of winning players at all limits with who I talk poker with daily. They are a mixture of 25NL players all the way through 25/50 players and higher. I think that my years of working for CardRunners have given me access to unbelievable poker minds and this is something I can bring back to the micro and low stakes community. I plan to write about a lot of these discussions as they relate to not only playing at the micros but beyond.
Finally, I am sure a lot of people will say that I’m burning so much financial EV by trying to build a bankroll from $100 this year. This is true, but so what? My wife and I live a very frugal lifestyle and this gives us tons of freedom to do pretty much what we want. If we had $1,000,000, I don’t feel like our lifestyle wouldn’t be much different (we might eat out more … maybe). Thus, we are in a position to do what we love. For me, taking on this project is much more satisfying than grinding the low and mid-stakes all year. At the end of the year, I will have something much more concrete to show for it than just money.
This is already in the tl;dr category, but I don’t think I could have made it any shorter without explaining my motivation. I will discuss my overall plan and structure later in a follow-up post.
Verneer’s quick bio
I was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1979. At that time, Poland was under communist rule and life was very tough for my family. My dad is a nuclear physics and got a position working in Lund, Sweden. Along with my mom, we moved there in 1982. We lived in Sweden for three years, and moved back to poland in 1985.
The next six years I went to elementary school in Warsaw, Poland. When I was 11, an opportunity opened up for my dad to go work at the University of Tennessee for a two years and he took it. Two years turned to three years, which in turn because five years. It started becoming more and more clear that we wouldn't be going back. I went through middle and high school in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and then applied to the University of Tennessee for college.
I got in with full scholarships and ended up essentially getting paid to go to school for four years. I got a degree in Math and a minor in psychology (two good things for poker, right?). As a sophomore, I applied to be a Resident Assistant but didn't get any job offers. I applied again the next year and got a position at Gibbs Hall - the athletic Residence Hall. We had a small staff an d life pretty much rocked for the next two years. My senior year I won multiple RA awards including being one of the seven RA's getting
inducted into UT's RA Hall of Fame. This was completely unexpected and probably the biggest honor that I've had bestowed on me to date. I share this to illustrate how important a sense of community is to me. After graduating from college, I applied to a bunch of Math Education departments to get my Masters. UGA in Athens, GA has a great Math Ed department, and Georgia teachers are paid fairly well given the costs of living here. As a state, I think they were # 3 at the time that I was applying to graduate school. I came down to visit, liked what I saw, and moved to Athens. I spent the next two years getting my Masters and enjoying life. After that, I got a job at a local inter-city high school. I would work there for four years teaching Math to mostly Latino ESL students as well as coaching Cross Country.
About two years into teaching, I found started playing poker online. I managed to find CardRunners and it helped me become a winning player. I started with 50NL and worked up, but I don't think I was ever a winner at 400NL at the time that I played it. Around th is time, Katy came to grad school in Athens and we started hanging out with a mutual group of friends. We got married two and a half years later and just recently celebrated our two-year anniversary.
One of my best friends at the time was Brian "hookem148" Rue - a player I met online an d would talk poker with for hours. I asked him to be one of my groomsmen and he agreed. Two days before my wedding was the first time I met him in person, but we've known each other for two years leading up to that. Brian was instrumental in any success I've had in poker and was there during some really tough times in my life. The other groomsmen came for the different parts of my life - one from High School, one from College, and one from graduate school. All have been there for me in those respective eras. During my fourth year of teaching high school, I got progressively more frustrated with public education as well and decided that I need a break. I talked with Katy about doing poker for a living and showed her large sample sizes of my results. She thought it would be a good idea, mostly because she knew how rough teaching high school was on my physical, mental, and emotional well being. Her father is a Methodist minister so he was less excited about the decision, but mostly because he had a lot of misconceptions about what being a poker player is like.
At this point, I was already a guest pro at CardRunners. I started out there very much the way I started on 2+2 - immersing myself in the community. I would answer tons of questions and soon people started asking Taylor if I could make a video. He in turn offered me a guest pro position. As you can imagine, getting a PM from Taylor was a pretty surreal experience at the time. I guess it would be the equivalent of having Mat Sklansky PM you on 2+2 and ask you to do some work for him.
Well - by the time I was about to leave my job at the high school, I asked Taylor if I could do more than just videos for CR. He gave me some administrative duties on the webpage, and asked me to do little
projects as they came up. To this day, working for CardRunners has proved to be one of the most rewarding jobs in my life.
So that brings us to this day. In late December, I had a conversation with Taylor about wanting to spend 2010 building my bankroll up at the micro and low stakes and documenting that whole experience. He thought it would be a good idea, and here we are. As far as non-poker stuff, I still coach cross country and track at a local high school as a volunteer, although not at the one which I quit.
Katy and I in Warsaw, Poland. We've been there twice together - once before the wedding when we were engaged, and once after we were married. The second time, she went for 4 weeks to learn Polish
language in Krakow and then we spent one week traveling around and vising family.
Your HUD and Reads Your HUD and Reads We often use our HUD
We often use our HUD to gain some insight into our opponents. We use to gain some insight into our opponents. We use that information to develop anthat information to develop an idea of their ranges. With the
idea of their ranges. With the player pool at the micros so large, your HUD player pool at the micros so large, your HUD is like your recon team -is like your recon team -giving you early glimpses of an unknown opponent. But what
giving you early glimpses of an unknown opponent. But what exactly does it tell you?exactly does it tell you? Let's examine a player with a
Let's examine a player with a made of screen name "PkrPlayer" by adding more and made of screen name "PkrPlayer" by adding more and more to what wemore to what we know about him and observe how this
know about him and observe how this information converges. Let's also make some generalizations atinformation converges. Let's also make some generalizations at each stage. The stages will grow exponentially.
each stage. The stages will grow exponentially. After Two Orbits:
After Two Orbits:
So after two orbits, the PkrPlayer h
So after two orbits, the PkrPlayer h as only played one hand. We can as only played one hand. We can guess that he's not one-tablingguess that he's not one-tabling because most one-tabling players at the micros don't like folding 11 out
because most one-tabling players at the micros don't like folding 11 out of 12 times. Could this guyof 12 times. Could this guy possibly be one of the multi-tabling nits? We'll need more
possibly be one of the multi-tabling nits? We'll need more info.info. After 25 Hands:
After 25 Hands:
Hmmm ... all signs seem to point to a
Hmmm ... all signs seem to point to a multi-tabling nit at this point. He is multi-tabling nit at this point. He is folding a lot. 25 hands is still folding a lot. 25 hands is still aa small sample, so let's see what happens in
small sample, so let's see what happens in the next 25.the next 25. After 50 Hands:
After 50 Hands:
Still no change ... let's give
Still no change ... let's give him the light-blue tag for "nit". him the light-blue tag for "nit". After 50 hands, we've yet to see After 50 hands, we've yet to see PkrPlayer goPkrPlayer go to showdown.
to showdown. After 100 Hands: After 100 Hands:
Given that his VPIP and PFR are fairly close and that he's 3-bet a few times, we can infer that he's at Given that his VPIP and PFR are fairly close and that he's 3-bet a few times, we can infer that he's at least has a general idea
least has a general idea about opening ranges. We shouldn't expect this player to open K2o UTG about opening ranges. We shouldn't expect this player to open K2o UTG or door do much limping. When he enters pots, he
much limping. When he enters pots, he is probably going to be doing so aggressively.is probably going to be doing so aggressively. After 250 Hands:
After 250 Hands:
Now these numbers seem to be more of
Now these numbers seem to be more of the standard TAG player. He is the standard TAG player. He is still going into pots aggressivelystill going into pots aggressively by open raising and 3-betting his fair
by open raising and 3-betting his fair share. Doesn't seem to be getting out share. Doesn't seem to be getting out of line. We've observed himof line. We've observed him play three hands to the
In
In Hand 1Hand 1, he opened QQ BvB and , he opened QQ BvB and bet/3-bet a J84r board vs. a 45BB stack bet/3-bet a J84r board vs. a 45BB stack who min-raised him on thatwho min-raised him on that board. He then shoved the turn and won the stack.
board. He then shoved the turn and won the stack. In
In Hand 2Hand 2, , he he flflatattted ed a a rereg'g's Us UTG TG raraisise e frfrom om MMP wP witith Ah AQQo. o. On On a fa flolop op of 5f 5 44 8 8 he he cchehecckeked bd bacackk when c
when checkehecked tod to. He . He checkchecked thed the turn e turn when twhen the T he T came came and thand then chen checkeecked the d the river river when twhen the 5he 5 came and won the pot.
came and won the pot.
So he seems to play straight-forward so far.
So he seems to play straight-forward so far. Nothing that jumps out.Nothing that jumps out. After 500 Hands:
After 500 Hands:
It seems like this guy is going to
It seems like this guy is going to be 3-betting more than just QQ+, AK be 3-betting more than just QQ+, AK (which comprises of 2.6% of (which comprises of 2.6% of hands). We get our first
hands). We get our first indication of this when the following hand indication of this when the following hand occurs:occurs: Hand 3:
Hand 3: UTG is playing very loosely (51/31/6 over 130 hands) and is the UTG is playing very loosely (51/31/6 over 130 hands) and is the mark at the table ATM. He mark at the table ATM. He isis sitting on 200 BB's. He opens and
sitting on 200 BB's. He opens and PkrPlayer 3-bets him standard. He has UTG covered. CO, a PkrPlayer 3-bets him standard. He has UTG covered. CO, a regularregular with 100 BB's, flats. UTG flats as well.
with 100 BB's, flats. UTG flats as well. T
Thhe fe flloop p ccoommees 5 s 5 2 2 K K aannd d ggeetts cs chheecckkeed td thhrroouugghh. T. Thhe te tuurrn in is s tthhe 7 e 7 anand d UUTTG cG chheecckks as aggaaiinn.. No
Now Pkw PkrPrPlalayeyer br betets as abobout 7ut 70% 0% anand Bd BTN sTN shohoveves. Ps. PkrkrPlPlayayer cer calall anl and fd flilips ps ovover er 6 6 8 8 fofor a mr a mononststerer dr
draw aw whwhilile e CO CO flflipips s ovover er a sa slolow-w-plplayayed ed A A AA . All . All drdrawaws s mimiss ss as as ththe 7 e 7 hits hits ththe e ririvever ar and nd CO CO wiwinsns the pot.
the pot.
This hand tells us a lot about PkrPlayer. First of all, he is not afraid to isolate the fish in position with This hand tells us a lot about PkrPlayer. First of all, he is not afraid to isolate the fish in position with marginal holdings. Secondly, he doesn't fire blindly postflop with weak draws multi-way. Lastly, he plays marginal holdings. Secondly, he doesn't fire blindly postflop with weak draws multi-way. Lastly, he plays his equity for what it's worth.
his equity for what it's worth. After 1,000 Hands:
After 1,000 Hands:
He is definitely a player that mixes up
He is definitely a player that mixes up it up both preflop and it up both preflop and postflop. Competent and aggressive.postflop. Competent and aggressive. We observe the following
We observe the following HandHand: TAG opens on the : TAG opens on the button with effective 100 BB stacks. PkrPlayer callsbutton with effective 100 BB stacks. PkrPlayer calls from the BB and c/c a 3
from the BB and c/c a 3 33 J J fflloopp. . TThhe te tuurrn wn whhiicch bh brriinnggs s tthhe A e A ggooees cs chheecckk//cchehecckk. T. Thhe re riivveer, r, tthhee 8
8 aallsso o cchheecck k tthhrroouugghh. . PPkkrrPPllaayyeer r hhaas s 99 9 9 anand d BBTTN N sshhoowws s ddoowwn n TT JJ .. Hand 5:
Hand 5: We We alalso so sesee he him im flflat at AA 6 6 BvBvB vB vs. s. a ra regegulular ar whwho oo opepens ns fofor 4r 4x. x. PkPkrPrPlalayeyer cr cheheckcks bs bacack tk the he 99 9
9 A A fflloopp, , cchheecckks as aggaaiin wn whheen tn thhe e 9 9 ttuurrnnss, a, annd cd caalllls a s a rriivveer br beet ot on tn thhe 2 e 2 tto o cchhoop p iit vt vss. A. A 2
2 ..
So after about a 1000 hands
So after about a 1000 hands we seem to have a we seem to have a player who is aggressive but not spewey post-flop. Heplayer who is aggressive but not spewey post-flop. He mixes up his play and is
mixes up his play and is definitely thinking about ranges. He c-bets most of the time and definitely thinking about ranges. He c-bets most of the time and barrels often.barrels often. He definitely 3-bets light, but seems to do it in
He definitely 3-bets light, but seems to do it in position and wtih a polarized range.position and wtih a polarized range. Let's hit "Fast Forward":
Let's hit "Fast Forward": After 2,500 Hands: After 2,500 Hands:
After 5,000 Hands: After 5,000 Hands: After 10,000 Hands: After 10,000 Hands: After 25,000 Hands: After 25,000 Hands:
What does this show us? It
What does this show us? It simply shows that our HUD doesn't tell us simply shows that our HUD doesn't tell us all that much about a all that much about a player evenplayer even after 100 hands. What it
after 100 hands. What it DOES show us is if DOES show us is if someone issomeone is completelycompletely out of line. In this case, PkrPlayer isout of line. In this case, PkrPlayer is far from a nit, but in fact a competent multi-tabling sLAG.
far from a nit, but in fact a competent multi-tabling sLAG. It also shows how crucial showdown histories are for
It also shows how crucial showdown histories are for us to get a us to get a sense of how the player plays and sense of how the player plays and howhow critical those are to playing vs. this player in
critical those are to playing vs. this player in the long run.the long run. For the purposes of our
For the purposes of our discussions, we are going to not make too many assumptions about a discussions, we are going to not make too many assumptions about a player'splayer's preflop range until we have a
preflop range until we have a few hundred hands on them few hundred hands on them or postflop tendencies until we see multipleor postflop tendencies until we see multiple showdowns from them.
showdowns from them. Final Thoughts:
Final Thoughts:
I'm going to leave close this with a
I'm going to leave close this with a hand I played at 5NL hand I played at 5NL vs. a player whom I hvs. a player whom I had playing 14/13/1 overad playing 14/13/1 over 100 hands at the time:
100 hands at the time:
Full Tilt NoLimit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed)
-Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - -Full-Tilt Hand ConverterFull-Tilt Hand Converter fromfrom HandHistoryConverter.com HandHistoryConverter.com SB ($4.64) SB ($4.64) BB ($6.56) BB ($6.56) UTG ($5.21) UTG ($5.21) MP ($7.82) MP ($7.82) CO ($5.97) CO ($5.97) Hero (Button) ($5.30) Hero (Button) ($5.30) Preflop
Preflop: H: Heerro o iis s BBuuttttoon wn wiitth Qh Q , Q, Q 2 folds
2 folds,, CO bets $0.17CO bets $0.17,, Hero raises to $0.58Hero raises to $0.58,, 2 folds2 folds,, CO raises to $1.30CO raises to $1.30,, Hero raises to $5.30 (All-In)Hero raises to $5.30 (All-In),, CO calls $4
CO calls $4 Flop
Flop: : (($$1100..6677) ) 33 , , KK , , 44 (2 players, 1 all-in)(2 players, 1 all-in) Turn
Turn: ($10.67) 8: ($10.67) 8 (2 players, 1 all-in)(2 players, 1 all-in) River
River: ($10.67) 3: ($10.67) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)(2 players, 1 all-in) Total pot:
Total pot: $10.67$10.67 | Rake:| Rake: $0.71$0.71 Results:
Results: H
Heerro o hahad d QQ , , Q Q ((ttwwo o ppaaiir, r, QQuueeeens ns aannd d tthrhreeeess)).. C
CO O hhaad d AA , , Q Q ((oonne e ppaaiirr, , tthhrreeeess)).. Outcome: Hero won $9.96
Outcome: Hero won $9.96 Moral:
My HUD (Heads Up Display) + Ranges and Playing The Player My HUD (Heads Up Display) + Ranges and Playing The Player As we move towards starting to talk about
As we move towards starting to talk about playing the button and the blinds, I playing the button and the blinds, I want to discuss mywant to discuss my current HUD, so to begin with, here is my setup, along with a picture of the HUD in action:
current HUD, so to begin with, here is my setup, along with a picture of the HUD in action:
I'll also talk about how I
I'll also talk about how I use the different sections.use the different sections. Line 1:
Line 1: Name and # of hands. Not much to discuss there.Name and # of hands. Not much to discuss there. Line 2:
Line 2: VPIP/PFR/3-bet%/Agg. After that it's Fold to 3-bet/4-bet/fold to 4-bet. The 4-bet stats becomeVPIP/PFR/3-bet%/Agg. After that it's Fold to 3-bet/4-bet/fold to 4-bet. The 4-bet stats become more useful once you start having a
more useful once you start having a bigger sample on someone.bigger sample on someone. Someone who is 3-betting more than 7% is
Someone who is 3-betting more than 7% is definitely 3-betting light a lot. Keep in mind that definitely 3-betting light a lot. Keep in mind that the range of the range of {QQ+, AK} is 2.6% of hands. If we add TT, JJ, and AQ, we still only have 4.7% of hands. That's why if {QQ+, AK} is 2.6% of hands. If we add TT, JJ, and AQ, we still only have 4.7% of hands. That's why if someone is 3-betting 5% hands, we don't consider them to
someone is 3-betting 5% hands, we don't consider them to be out of line.be out of line. In the example above, Jeff, whom we h
In the example above, Jeff, whom we h ave 872 hands on, is 3-betting 8% of ave 872 hands on, is 3-betting 8% of hands. I would definitelyhands. I would definitely look for spots to be 4-betting him as a
look for spots to be 4-betting him as a bluff. I'll talk a bluff. I'll talk a lot more about this dynamic later on when lot more about this dynamic later on when II discuss playing from the BTN. People ask "When
discuss playing from the BTN. People ask "When should I 4-bet light?" Well ... if should I 4-bet light?" Well ... if they 3-bet a lot but foldthey 3-bet a lot but fold to 4-bets, you should do it!
to 4-bets, you should do it! Line 3:
Line 3: This is where it starts This is where it starts getting more interesting. These are the positional openings. Basically, howgetting more interesting. These are the positional openings. Basically, how often do they open from a
often do they open from a certain position when it's folded around to them? certain position when it's folded around to them? This gives me a quickThis gives me a quick snapshot of their opening ranges as well
snapshot of their opening ranges as well as an idea how positionally aware they as an idea how positionally aware they are.are. Key Point:
Key Point: If you have a good sense of If you have a good sense of someone's range and tendencies, you can play perfectly againstsomeone's range and tendencies, you can play perfectly against them. Obviously it takes time to develop this, but the idea
them. Obviously it takes time to develop this, but the idea is still fundamental in poker. I'll illustrate withis still fundamental in poker. I'll illustrate with this example from a session I played yesterday. The hand
this example from a session I played yesterday. The hand is a full-ring hand, but is a full-ring hand, but the exercise of thinkingthe exercise of thinking about someone's range and making the right play
about someone's range and making the right play still applies.still applies. YouTube Example:
YouTube Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IF3y3CPrdM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IF3y3CPrdM Line 4:
Line 4: Combine this withCombine this with line 3line 3 and you get an idea of what % of the range the players are folding onceand you get an idea of what % of the range the players are folding once they open. In the example above, Jeff is
they open. In the example above, Jeff is opening 12% of hands UTG (this opening 12% of hands UTG (this is reasonable), and folding tois reasonable), and folding to 67% of 3-bets (probably a small sample size, but when you
67% of 3-bets (probably a small sample size, but when you look at how often he look at how often he is folding his MP opensis folding his MP opens to 3-bets, you get a sense that
Thus, you can start pegging him for a candidate to 3-bet light.
Line 5: Basically ... how often do they defend their blinds and how do they do it? Using this will become a basis for a whole new article, because the 3-handed BTN/SB/BB dynamic is a whole game-within-a-game when it comes to poker. There is no way I could do this topic justice in this post.
Line 4: Flop c-bet, turn c-bet. If the first one is high and the second one is low, you can guess how to exploit them.
Spoiler:
Float, LDO
The second sequence is how often they fold to a c-bet on the flop and on the turn. If the first one is low but the second is high, you can probably figure out what you need to do there ...
Spoiler:
Double Barrel, LDO
Also, if their first one is low and the second one is low, you should again make the right adjustment in playing them.
Under The Gun (UTG)
This position should be fairly easy to play since you are almost always guaranteed to play out of position postflop. I’ll present the general opening range there and discuss when to deviate from it.
Default UTG raising range: 22+, ATs+, AJ+, KJs+, KQo (11.3% of hands)
You'll notice two major omissions from this: Suited connectors and suited aces. You see those being raise quite a bit in the mid stakes and high stakes games, but a lot of that is for the sake of having a more balanced game. Balance is something we are not at all concern with at 25NL and below simply because regulars won't play with you long enough (you move up or they move up) to exploit your lack of balance. But specifically ...
Why omit suited aces lower than ATs?
You’ll often find yourself where you are dominated since a lot of people will call preflop in position with A8 – AJ type hands. You won't flop a flush draw often enough to make this profitable, and most often you'll find yourself with a really weak pair or a top pair with no kicker and those are tough to play.
What about suited connectors?
They look sexy, but you will be OOP almost always and flop weak, one-pair type hands, or a pair + draw which will cause you to bleed money. You might also find yourself in a multi-way pot with a dominated draw, and those are very tough to play OOP.
Exception to the Rule # 1:
If you have a good read on the table to where:
A) MP, CO, and BTN don’t 3-bet much, fold a lot to your UTG raises. B) SB and/or BB are playing too many hands and pay off light. C) You are 170+ BB's deep with the SB and/or BB.
In this case, you can add some suited connectors (78s -QJs) and suited aces. Dealing with 3-bets:
What to do if you are facing a standard sized 3-bet from MP - BTN?
• KK+: 4-bet for value
• QQ, AK: 4-bet (to start developing an aggressive image). If they fold, they will feel bad because people don’t like folding. Even if you get it in and you were behind, you start getting information which you can then use for the future.
• Fold everything else to a standard 3-bet size.
Once you develop a read (over 500 hands) and see that someone is 3-betting less than 3% of hands: • KK+: 4-bet for value
• QQ, AK: These don’t fare that well vs. their 3-betting range of your UTG open, so just give it up and fold it.
What to do if you are facing a standard sized 3-bet from the SB or BB?
If you have no read on the player or less than 20 hands on them (and VPIP < 30% and a PFR reasonably close)
• KK+: 4-bet for value
• QQ, AK: Flat, play Positionally
Once you develop a read (over 500 hands) and see that someone is 3-betting less than 3% of hands. • KK+: 4-bet for value
• 22 - QQ, AK: We should expect them to play pretty face up and we can often get to showdown vs. AK and be able to fold vs. KK+.
Exception to the Rule # 2:
If you are 200 BB’s deep vs. someone, call any pocket pair to a 3bet other than KK+ (this is in position -OOP, still fold to a normal sized 3-bet - you are just not likely to get paid off often enough when you hit your set).
What if you have someone at your table who is getting out of line with 3-bets (10%+)?
Simply tighten up your UTG range and evaluate whether the table will be profitable. A recommended tighter UTG range of 88+, AJs+, AQ+, KQs (6.2% of hands):
Note: As you can see, this is a fairly exploitable approach to UTG play, but who cares? The number of players who will exploit you at 25NL and below is minuscule.
Middle Position (MP)
Disclaimer: What follows is a general discussion of why a certain range is profitable in a setting where you don't have great reads and will be +EV until you develop those reads. Your adjustments that you make due to y our reads are what will make you money in the long run, not some hand chart. With that said, MP should still play fairly straightforward.
This position should play pretty much like UTG with two small differences: 1. Sometimes a player enters the pot ahead of you.
2. You are 10% less likely to be OOP postflop.
Default MP raising range: 22+, AT+, JTs+, KJ+ (13.7% of hands)
Two additions that you might notice are JTs and QJs. Those play well enough postflop to open at this point.
Limpers
This is the first position where you start dealing with limpers. Assuming that the limper has a reasonable stack (65BB's+) you can isolate them with your whole open range. No need to pot it - just make it 4x with whatever you would have opened - even 22 - and go from there. Treat them almost like if they folded.
If a limper is a short stack, just open whatever you feel comfortable playing all-in preflop vs. him. Facing an UTG open
By default, you can 3-bet JJ+, AK for value. If you get shoved on, you should fold the jacks. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't have 3-bet them at this level - tons of people will call you with worse, but when you get 4-bet, you will often look at QQ+, AK. As you develop reads and realize that someone's 4-betting range from UTG is KK+ and they either 4-bet or fold, you can start flatting QQ and AK.
Also, by default, you should call 22 - TT, AQ, AJs, and KQs. Those should be pretty easy to play postflop. What about suited connectors?
Meh ... how often do you win a big 4-way pot being OOP with 78s? You remember the times where you've flopped a straight and forget all the times you've bled money. Often you will flop a weak flush draw or pair + draw. Now - HU, those do really well in position, but multi-way OOP not so well. Facing a 3-bet
The Cutoff, Part 1
The cutoff is an exponentially tougher position to navigate preflop than both UTG and MP. The ranges become much more dynamic due to the potential preflop action as well as our reads on the button and blinds. Ideally, we want a tight player directly to our left whose button we can steal liberally and thus play ~1/3 of our hands in position.
As a general rule, you don't want to be at a table with an aggressive player on your left. It really shrinks your CO opening range. Refer to my article on Common !NL Mistakes, Part 1 for more on this.
In fact, even a player two seats to your left, if aggressive, can make your life tough by 3-betting your CO opens and squeezing if the BTN calls. If you have one of those at your table, as with the case above, evaluate the totality of the situation and see if it's still +EV.
Opening Readless from the CO:
It's important to get a sense of how much the button is going to let us raise. For the first 3-4 orbits, open most playable hands and see how he reacts:
Once you get a sense for how loose/tight the button is when you are in the CO, you'll have to adjust your range to target the blinds. I'll discuss what type of ranges will be +EV for opening vs. different type of players in the blinds.
Range vs. Loose/Passives
If one or more players in the blinds is loose/passive and the BTN is tight (VPIP < 15, 3-bet less than 3%), you'll want to open a range which is very TPGK heavy. Vs. these guys you will get paid by making a pair and having them out-kicked.
So it's possible and profitable to open a hand like Q7o in the CO if the BTN is a nit and folds a lot, but the blinds are calling with hands like T7, J7, 78, 57, 67, etc. This is also why we don't open hands like 57 vs. these guys ourselves - they are calling with hands like J7.
The thing to keep in mind is that pretty hands like 56s can win big pots, but in reality their power comes from potential fold equity. A lot of loose/passive players like to go to showdown, and a hand like Q7o is much more likely to be good at showdown than 56s. This is also why we want to isolate these players with a range similar to the one shown above when they limp instead of popping up hands like 68s (something I used to be guilty of doing).
On the other hand, if the BTN is loose/passive himself, we'll need to remove a big part of our range since we are likely to be OOP. We'll need to be much stronger:
Cutoff, Part 2 If UTG, MP Opens:
Most players cold-call too much to UTG and MP opens. You are much better of 3-betting or folding in a lot of situations. Hands like 89s looks really pretty to cold-call a UTG open because "I can hit big in so many ways and I have position", but once again - how often do you really hit big with 89s?
There are good hands to call an open with - mostly pocket pairs 22-99 (sometimes TT-JJ), and AJs, KQs, and AQ. All of them play much better IP.
If the opener opens a lot and then folds to 3-bets, 3-bet them wide. Do it with hands that have post-flop IP playability (mid SC or OG like 78s, QTs, J9s, etc) or card removal + bluffcatchers (A4s, KJo, etc). Make sure that you don't have a 60/50 type player yet to act who just must see a flop. If that's the case, just 3-bet for value.
Typical value 3-betting range for a UTG open will be JJ+, AK. Vs. some players who only 4-bet or fold, and when they 4-bet, they have KK+, AK, 3-betting JJ-QQ, AK won't be profitable. There are not many of those though. On the other hands, many players will call your 3-bet with a wide range. Thus, by default, JJ will be good enough to 3-bet.
Limpers:
Of course if someone limp-calls pre-flop and then c/f a lot of flops, you will show a profit isolating ATC, but you should be ok sticking to the range listed above.
Suited aces are included because you can cooler people and they have a lot of showdown value unimproved. Small pocket pairs are included because:
1. You don't want the button or blinds to isolate both of you - something you are asking them to do when you limp behind.
2. You want to play big pots if you hit a set. Can't win a big pot if you don't build a big pot. Facing a 3-bet:
The BTN/CO dynamics are something which will require a whole new article of discussion. You are often best 4-betting a range which adjusts to the frequency of the BTN 3-bettor or folding. At the beginning, start with QQ+, AK. Add a few bluffs to this once you have a feeling that the BTN is a regular. Suited aces work great there! Without a read, don't 4-bet light! Once you learn more and more, adjust this range. If they are 3-betting you too much, leave - you won't get the better of them !NLess they spew like crazy.
On the other hand, if you get 3-bet from the blinds and you are both 100BB's deep, 4-bet KK and flat with AA, QQ, and AK. Once you learn more about the blinds frequencies and tendencies, you can start changing your own range. You should be 100% fine at !NL if you simply fold to 3-bets and play your value range.
!NL Superstar: Fold 99 in position to a 3-bet??? Me: Sure.
!NL Superstar: Isn't that too weak tight and exploitable? Me: Sigh.
Now - with very specific reads, you can change this (they will fire 1-barrel with AK if they miss and then give up. If they have an overpair they will barrel), but this is overall a good rule to live by.
Playing the Button, Part 1
In this part, we'll talk about playing the button when the action folds around to you. When that happens, our main concern is who the players in the blinds are. We'll address different opening ranges and play based on that.
Nits:
Anyone with a VPIP of under 16.
If you have two of these guys in the blinds, you can open any two cards for 2.5x and show a profit. If they 3-bet you, you can 4-bet KK+ and flat AK, QQ to see a flop. Fold the rest !NLess you are 170+ BB's deep, then you can call and set-mine.
Loose/Passives:
Plays a lot of hands even out of the blinds.
If you have a LP in the blinds, you'll want to play a range of hands which is more top-pair/good-kicker heavy. This is a modified range that we used to isolate them with from the CO:
3-bet Monkey
Plays a VPIP of 28+, 3-bets 20%+ hands from the blinds.
Tighten up preflop and be willing to get it in much lighter. Start bet/jamming hands like 66 - 99, and 4-bet/calling hands TT - QQ, AK. Flatting KK+ will often allow you to make money postflop if he's bluffing a lot. If you tighten up enough preflop, 4-betting pretty much ATC will show a profit vs. these guys.
But ... why are you sitting to the right of this guy in the first place? TAG, Part 1
VPIP of between 18-24%, 3-bets 5% total, but mostly calls instead of 3-bets from the blinds (hands like KQo and AJs he'll call).
You can open a really wide range vs. these guys for 2.5x and show a profit because of them folding preflop. Postflop you'll be in position.
When facing a 3-bet: Someone who is only 3-betting 5% of hands should get our respect, but we can still profitably 4-bet JJ-QQ, AK vs. them and call in position with AQ, KQs, KK-AA. No reason to 4-bet bluff these guys - as we said - their range is mostly value.
TAG, Part 2
Similar VPIP, but has a 3-bet/fold style from the blinds. Thus, they will play a tighter range, but play it more aggressively.
Their range: These players will still call with pocket pairs 22-99 from the SB, but then 3-bet a huge part of their range to take initiative and because "they are ahead of your BTN opening range." So their range for 3-betting of around 10-14% of hands will look something like this:
Obv it's specific to the villain, but it will consist of:
A) Value hands which they are willing to get it in preflop (TT+, AK+). This represents only 3.5% of their total range. They might or might not 5-bet jam AQ - it all depends on your dynamic. If they do, their total range for getting it in jumps to around 5%.
B) Broadways which they raise because they are "ahead of your range" and flop a good top pair. These will constitute around 4% of that 10-14% range.
C) Suited Connectors/Random Ax-hands - that will be the rest.
So as you can see, we should still open very wide on the button vs. these guys since they mostly 3-betting or folding from the blinds. When they 3-bet, their range is mostly weak, so we'll want to call with our strong range of KQ+, AJs+, AQ+, QQ+ and playing them in position.
We'll want to 4-bet/call 99-JJ and 4-bet/jam 55-88. Finally, we can 4-bet random air hands like Axs or QJo since we expect to get a fold often enough to show a profit.
Some Math behind 4-bet bluffing:
You raise 3 BB's on the button and villains 3-bets you to 10 BB's. There are 13 BB's in the pot. You 4-bet to 26 BBs'. When you do that, you are risking 23 BB's to win the 13 BB's that are in the pot.
This will show a profit if villain folds (23)/(13 + 23) = 68% of the time. If villain is only getting it in with TT+, AK, a 4-bet bluff will be very borderline, but there are great meta-game implications for 4-bet bluffing:
A) Villains is much less likely to 3-bet you light if he knows that you are going to be 4-bet bluffing him. B) Villain is willing to stack off much lighter.
Thus, since they tighten up their range, we can go back to stealing their blinds with a greater frequency and not let them get out of line.
More Math, behind 4-bet jamming medium pockets:
We said that if the villain is 3-betting us with a range of ~12%, that range will include a lot of hands that he's going to be folding. Roughly around 2/3 of the hands he is 3-betting he's going to be folding. Vs. a range of TT+, AQ+, a hand like 66 has 38% equity when called. So, assuming 100 BB stacks:
- 66% of the time villain 3-bet/folds. We win 13 BB's (our 3 that we opened with and their 10 which they 3-bet with).
- 33% of the time they call and we have 38% equity vs. their range. Our share of equity in a 200 BB pot is 76 BBs. Since we risk 97 BB's to do it, the play will cost us 21 BB's in the long run.
So: 66% (+13 BBs) + 33% (-21 BB's) = +1.65 BB's.
This might not seem like a lot, but again - consider the potential long term implications of making such plays as listed above in the 4-bet/bluffing discussion.
Plays like this could potentially increase your winrate by a few BB/100 (as illustrated above) in the short term, and massively more so in the long term when you tilt people.
Key Idea: Base your opening range on the most active player in the blinds. So if you have a nit and a TAG, open according to the TAG's range. If you have a TAG and a loose/passive, open with a range that targets the loose/passive, etc.
Playing the Button (Part 2)
Note: The Button is probably the most complex position to play, and thus, if played well, should be your most profitable one. Thus the multiple posts about it.
This post will focus on developing your calling/3-betting ranges based on our perception of the villain's positional range. Thus, we look at what % of hands they open from a certain position, figure out how they continue with that range (fold, call, 4-bet), and then come up with a range which maximizes EV on that. As we develop reads, we change our initial assumptions and then change our own range/play based on the new assumptions. In essence, this is the crux of poker.
Note: Our range of the button should be extremely dynamic and not static. The posts that will follow will attempt to highlight some thought processes that you should start implementing instead of telling you "play these hands from the button."
UTG/EP TAG opens, folded to you.
Until we have more reads, we are going to assume that TAGs in EP/MP will play a pretty tight range. It's impossible to figure out EXACTLY what they play un til you get to know the player better, but for the sake of a starting point, let's give th em a range of 14%. This range looks like this:
As you can see, they play pocket pairs and some suited connectors + some Broadways. Certainly a
reasonable range to play from MP (I wouldn't play this range, but we can assume the avg !NL player will think this is a good range). So ... how do we play vs. this range?
Calling Preflop vs. This Range:
You should really consider who is in the blinds before making your decision. If the blinds are loose passives then you'll want to call wider. If the blinds are squeeze happy, you'll want to call tighter (and trap sometimes with hands like AK with the intention of back-raising). But, for now, let's assume you don't have a great read on the blinds or that they won't be a big factor in the hand (i.e. - mostly calling or folding but overall you expect to be HU vs. the UTG/MP player more often than not).
We'll also assume that the EP/MP player is going to fold to most of your 3-bets. So ... let's discuss the following calling range:
Small and medium pocket pairs are obvious. They have tons of value in position and if the blinds come along often enough, we are in poker heaven.
AQ/AJ: We figure that these have plenty of high-card value and will often dominate random queens and jacks that the EP/MP player opens with. AJo is the most marginal of these, but shouldn't be a big leak as
long as you don't go nuts if you flop one pair and face tons of aggression.
If you find out that the villain doesn't open JTs, JQs, or KJo from UTG, then you should start folding AJo. This forces you to get to showdowns and pay attention.
KQ: Same argument as above. Flops enough good one-pair type hands, especially if the blinds come along. Can flop a good draw as well.
QJs, KJs: You'll be able to get one or two streets of value vs. their medium pockets on J or Q-high
boards (with QJs), but more importantly, if you both flop a draw, you often flop a dominating draw if they open these medium suited connectors. Overall, these just play well in position.
JTs: Didn't list it above as it's pretty marginal. If the blinds come along often and are loose/passive, this should be a call 100% of the time as they will call with all sorts of garbage hands and JTs plays well in position by flopping tons of more nutted draws.
Overall, suited connectors and one gappers will not be profitable calls for you even in position vs. this type of opening range simply because you'll often find your draw dominated (and then you whine about being coolered if you flop an under-straight or under-flush, but nah - you really weren't). Calling hands like 89s to this type of EP/MP raiser will be a leak.
The one place to do it is if one or both of the blinds are HUGE whales and massively overplay their one-pair type hands.
3-betting Preflop vs. This Range:
We'll assume that the UTG/EP player will fold most of their range to a 3-bet. We'll want to 3-bet them with a polarized range which makes our postflop decisions fairly easy.
QQ+, AK: Obviously for value (this is 2.6% of hands)
Bluffs: Hands like 87s, 9Ts, T8s, and A5s all are pretty good hands to 3-bet bluff with.
Now ... they key to all this is developing reads of the player's tendencies. If they are folding to the
majority of your 3-bets, then 3-betting with any two cards will show a profit (Note: Try to at least stay in line a bit. Be very aware of game-flow and understand that 3-betting their opens every orbit will piss them off and they will adjust).
If they are calling with a big range, then we start opening our value 3-betting range up. For example, if they raise/call hands like QJs to your BTN 3-bet, then you can start 3-betting hands like AJo for value since we can assume they will call with many more weaker jacks (like KJs and probably JTs as well). AQo is another one of those hands - if someone is flatting AJ to your 3-bets then AQo becomes an easy 3-bet. Some monkeys raise/call any ace. If they are folding too much, then calling with it becomes more +EV than 3-betting (cause then you are not really 3-betting it for value anymore since they are folding KQ and AJ, right?).
The next post in the series of discussions about BTN play will deal with someone opening a wider range (like from the CO for example) of around 25-30%.
Playing the Button (Part 3)
This time we will examine how to deal with a player that opens between 26-30% of hands. This is right around the range that most TAGs will open from the CO. While it's impossible to figure out exactly what the player's range is, we can assume it's going to include suited aces, Broadway cards, pairs, as well as some connected and suited mid-cards. This range will look something like this:
3-betting vs. This Range:
Since the range above represents 28% of hands, and he is likely to continue with a small portion of this range (88+, AJs+, KQs, AQ+ is only 6.2% of hands and 22% of the ran ge above), 3-betting pretty much any two cards should show a profit.
Note: Just because 3-betting any two cards should show a profit in a vacuum, doesn't mean you
SHOULD be 3-betting any two cards all the time. Game flow should be taken into consideration because we should assume that he is going to tighten up his opening range if we start 3-betting him h abitually. As far as our value range of 3-betting, you should stick to JJ+, AK for now - hands that you are willing to 5-bet shove when facing a 3-bet. As you start developing some history and see that he is either folding to all your 3-bets or calling/4-betting you wider, you should naturally adjust, but you have to start somewhere and QQ+, AK is a good starting point. What about AQ you ask? I'll address that below. Calling vs. the Range Above:
Let's examine the reasons for flatting the player above with this range:
It basically comes down to us keeping the parts of his range which flop dominated draws and dominated one-pair type hands.
AQ: If the player above is folding to a lot of our 3-bets, there is much more value in flatting a hand like AQ. In position we are going to get at least two streets of value against worse aces and worse queens (which if you look at the villain's range, there are plenty of). If villain flops two pair we are not going to lose our stack assuming we don't overplay our hand postflop.
AT, AJ: For the same arguments as above, the player is opening a lot of worse Jacks, Tens, and Aces to merit keeping these in preflop by flatting with dominating hands. In addition, we are going to get multiple streets of value vs. his medium pocket pairs on J or T high boards when we have AT or AJ.
Broadway Cards: These play great for high card value, and will play well in position. Villain is opening lots of dominated cards and dominated draws and we will often be able to float tons of flops and take it away on later steets. Even with a hand as marginal as like QTs, just look at the list of suited connectors and one-gappers to see how often you'll dominate his draws. QTs also flops a good one-pair type hand vs. this range.
K9s: Starting to get really marginal, but probably strong enough to continue given all the worse 9's villain is opening with.
A7s - A9s: Given the number of suited cards this player is opening, these suited aces will flop nut draws. In addition, because this player is opening tons of weaker 7s, 8s, and 9s, our kicker will often be good on
boards where the 7, 8, or 9 is top or 2nd pair. Once again - position will allow us to control the pot size and get to showdown on our terms.
Merits to a Wide BTN Calling Range:
We want to start figuring out this player's actual range and tendencies ASAP and by calling wide, we will be able to get to a lot of showdowns and noticing what type of hands he's c-betting with, check/calling turns, check/calling rivers, etc. If the player notices us playing the button fairly loosely, he will probably tighten up his CO opening range as well which will allow us to open more buttons when it's folded around to us.
Then why not 86s ... ?
If we want to keep our range wide on the button, why not call his opens with T9s? Well - now a lot of our one-pair type hands have hardly any value and most of our draws are dominated by his draws. 86s has much more value when 3-bet in this spot.
Always Consider the Blinds!
It should go without saying that before making any decision, consider what the blinds are like. If one of them is squeeze-happy, dump your marginal K9s, QTs, ATo type hands which will encourage a squeeze. Consider flatting AKo at times in order to back-raise it.
In addition, if the blinds are HUGE loose/passive fish that are incapable of folding a one-pair type hand and pay you off, you can start adding some lower suited aces (will always have the nut draw), as well as hands as weak as A7o. It's all about range vs. range, and if someone is playing tons of weak 7's and any ace, A7o plays well in position.
Playing from the Small Blind (Part 1)
This is probably them most complex position to play from because of all the action before us and because we are guaranteed to be OOP for the rest of the hand. Let's start with the simplest scenario though. Action Folds To Us
This is where your table selection becomes so crucial and having a nit or TAG on your left pays off. Most players don't steal wide enough BvB. I h ighlighted this early on in my review leakfinder for gsicilano. In my own database, I played 7,176 hands from the small blind and actually managed to squeak out a profit from there. Good table selection and stealing from the big blind was instrumental to this, although part of it is obviously small-sample variance.
That said, in my sample, I steal right around 40% BvB. As I hope you know by now, this doesn't mean that you should go into PokerStove, look at the top 40% of hands, and open those. Instead, the villain in the BB is much more important than your actual hand most of the time.
For example, vs. a nit, you can probably open ATC profitably. One thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to open with 100% frequency just because he'll get tired of you stealing eventually. So, pay
attention to game flow and fold that 82o from time to time. In fact, I open very similar ranges BvB to what I would open on the button vs. certain player types.
I tend to c-bet around 55% once called because I'm OOP and most people that call from the BB are not looking to give up to a c-bet (my c-bet success is around 40%).
With Limpers
You can isolate a limper with most playable hands. Keep in mind an opponent's stack size though! The shorter the stack, the more you want to raise with hands that you are willing to play all-in preflop.
Obviously your reads play into it, but good Broadways, some high aces, and the top pocket pairs will play well postflop:
I also would complete with a pretty wide range because of the price that I'm getting, but I want to do it with hands that either flop a good draw or a monster:
Remember: These are not static ranges! Sometimes I will overlimp K9s, sometimes I won't complete A7o, and sometimes I will raise a small pocket from the SB.
Example 1: Villain is playing 81/21 and fully stacked. The idea here is that you have to build a pot on early streets to win a big pot postflop:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players Hero (SB): $27.61
BB: $37.50 UTG: $31.71 CO: $50.00 BTN: $36.11
Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with 3 3
2 folds, BTN calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds
Example 2: Villain is sitting on 31 BB's and is playing 67/1. I don't want to play my QJ AIPF and if I flop a pair, I will be able to bet/bet/bet and get all the money in postflop. Thus, his stack size and my
unwillingness to play this for stacks OOP had me overlimp. Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players BTN: $35.87
Hero (SB): $26.70 BB: $28.11
UTG: $7.77 CO: $32.87
Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with J Q
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.15, BB checks Flop: ($0.75) 5 A 9 (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks Turn: ($0.75) 6 (3 players) Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks River: ($0.75) 9 (3 players) Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks
